Chapter 10 - The Red FolderClara opened her coveralls.
She reached inside.
Ryan instinctively stepped back.
Clara pulled out a thick red folder.
The afternoon sunlight struck the gold lettering across its cover.
LAND OWNERSHIP — DEXTT ESTATE.
Ryan stared.
His face changed.
Chloe stopped breathing.
Clara held the folder between them.
"This house," she said, "belongs to me."
Ryan laughed.
But there was no confidence in it anymore.
"That's impossible."
Clara opened the folder.
"Is it?"
She removed a certified document.
Then another.
Then another.
Ryan's eyes moved rapidly across the pages.
Chloe whispered:
"Ryan..."
He ignored her.
Clara continued.
"The deed has been transferred."
She lifted her eyes.
"Legally."
Ryan shook his head.
"Eleanor signed it over."
"No."
Clara's voice was calm.
"You forged the authority to act on her behalf."
Silence.
The neighborhood suddenly felt very small.
Ryan looked toward the house.
Then toward the road.
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For the first time, he understood something terrifying.
His kingdom had never belonged to him.
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